Thursday, 4 June 2009

Update

Here is my Red Knee about a week ago. He's becoming really active now and has a done a little more burrowing.

The Tiger Rump is also doing a lot more now, yesterday when I fed him he started to build a web for his food which was awesome.

The weather is getting warmer now I don't have the heat mat on all the time, but the Red Knee seems to like the substrate more when it's a bit warmer.

Sunday, 24 May 2009

Doing Well

Sorry for the lack of news lately, but I have been stupidly busy during these last weeks as I have my final hand in for my photography degree tomorrow!
The spiders are great, Red Knee has finally made a spot of web in the corner, and likes to have a wee wrestle with his pray when fed. Same goes for the Tiger Rump, he has built a castle in his little film canester, it sort of winds around into little tunnels and hide outs, he loves it! Nobody has moulted again, but I suspect Tiger Rump has moulted but it's either hidden in the substrate or he ate it.

I will get some photos up soon :)

Saturday, 2 May 2009

Update

The spiderlings are both coming along well, both are eating well and seem to be happy! The C. Fasciatum has built an underground layer in his pot; with webbing to hold up the roof and a gap for him to rush out to snatch his food. Mr red knee is quite happy kicking about the substrate.
Both also seem to be growing well :)

Thursday, 23 April 2009

B. Smithi Sucessfully Fed!

Five nights after moulting, Red Knee was offered a cricket and he ate it straight away! As he didn't eat at all with me prior to his moult, it is really pleasing to see him eat and act as normal! I'll probably give him another one tomorrow.

The Tiger Rump is underground, but has cleverly built a descrete entrance to his burrow which was only noticealbe when he sneaked back in! He seems to also be a little off his food, it's a sign!

Sunday, 19 April 2009

B. Smithi Moulted!



After much anticipation red knee has finally moulted :) I was doing my usual check this morning and didn't notice the moult straight away, and for a second I was like "Oo he looks strange" then noticed it was guarding its fresh moult by sitting on it. It looks so tiny compared to the spider! I don't know what it's like to be a spiderling, but I bet he feels much more comfortable, all I have to do now is let him harden up and hopefully I'll be able to feed him by the end of the week. Which will be amazing as he hasn't accepted food at all since I got him so to see him eat will be a relief.

Here are two photos, the first is post moult and the second is the exoskeleton with a ruler for emphasis on the tinyness! Don't worry, I'm not gonna hassle him again until he's ready to eat.

Wednesday, 8 April 2009

Webbing

The Tiger Rump has built a nice silk trap web next to its burrow; which is now a couple of burrows that could be joined together. It spends most of its time tucked away underneath, and it's exciting to see it make its place more of a home!

As for the Red Knee, it seems to be getting darker every day and heading closer to a moult, I hope it will happen any day now as it hasn't eaten since we had it, which is slightly worrying but it is to be expected. There will be photographes when it does :)

It is probably not possible to get some photos of the webbing, but I'm sure that spiderling will spin more and then you can see some photos!

Saturday, 4 April 2009

Buried Alive C.Fasciatum

Don't worry, it's not as bad as it sounds! The spider is alive and well, but I assigned myself the task this morning of digging him out. Well, carefully taking some substrate out a grain at a time to find it all cosy and tucked up half way down the tub. Of course, he's gone back into a burrow now so I expect he knows what he's doing, just wanted to make sure it was alive and well seeings as he's only wee!